The State Museum of Pennsylvania

03/27/2023

Fine Arts Curator Amy Hammond will host a virtual Artists Conversation program on Friday, March 31 at 12:15 PM with "Art of the State 2022" Purchase Award winner Matthew Coté. Sign up for this program as they discuss “Full Circle” a fine art brooch that represents the impact of mass shootings on American culture.

The title “Full Circle” refers to the reoccurrence of mass shootings while each of the 20 rifles on the brooch signifies a year between the Columbine High School massacre in 1999 and the work’s creation in 2019. Because Full Circle was designed to be worn and not simply displayed in an art gallery or museum, it represents the role of the artist as activist.

Registration is required. ➡statemuseumpa.org/event/virtaos/

03/27/2023

Explore and experiment with magnets. Discover their history, uses, and how they work on Wednesday, March 29 at 11:30 AM. The program is included with museum admission.

➡ statemuseumpa.org/events/

03/26/2023

“A Place for All: Three Stories of Integration in Pennsylvania” comprises three sections, focusing on the Civil Rights Movement in , each section telling a story of bravery, strength and resilience.

A Story of Strength: The Myers Family Moves to Levittown
A Story of Bravery: Integrating Pittsburgh’s Public Pools
A Story of Resilience: The Desegregation of Girard College

View this exhibit on Floor 1.
Plan your visit ➡www.statemuseumpa.org

03/26/2023

Penny, The State Museum of Pennsylvania’s firefly, has a scavenger hunt ready so that families can discover each floor of the museum in a new way! Pick one up at the Information Desk.

Plan your visit ➡statemuseumpa.org/visit/

03/25/2023

Although they are non-native, the long-blooming characteristic of hellebores make this plant a popular choice for gardeners. There are about twenty species of this perennial plant in the family Ranunculaceae that can flower in from late winter through late spring.

But beware…while the blooms are beautiful, all parts of hellebores are toxic when ingested and the leaves may cause skin irritation, so wear gloves when handling this plant .

03/25/2023

Spend your lunchtime with us on Friday, March 31 at 12:15 PM. Fine Arts Curator Amy Hammond will host a virtual Artists Conversation program with "Art of the State 2022" Purchase Award winner Matthew Coté to discuss “Full Circle” a fine art brooch that represents the impact of mass shootings on American culture.

The title “Full Circle” refers to the reoccurrence of mass shootings while each of the 20 rifles on the brooch signifies a year between the Columbine High School massacre in 1999 and the work’s creation in 2019. Because Full Circle was designed to be worn and not simply displayed in an art gallery or museum, it represents the role of the artist as activist.

Registration is required. ➡statemuseumpa.org/event/virtaos/

03/24/2023

Dorothea Lynde Dix (1802-1887) dedicated her life to social reform. After observing the appalling conditions that mentally ill prisoners were subjected to, Dix launched a campaign in 1841 to change how public and private institutions approached treatment of this vulnerable population. Dix was instrumental in developing over 30 specially designed hospitals in the United States, including Harrisburg State Hospital and Dixmont State Hospital in Pennsylvania.

View this 1865 painting of her created by artist Samuel Bell Waugh in the museum’s online collection ➡ bit.ly/3yLNcEd

03/24/2023

Fossils are remains, traces, or imprints of any plant or animal from a past geologic time that has been preserved in the earth’s crust. Pennsylvania even has a state fossil, Eldredgeops rana, an extinct species of trilobite.

Stop by on Saturday March 25 at 10:00 AM or 1:30 PM to learn more about fossils found in Pennsylvania and make a “fossil” to take home.


➡statemuseumpa.org/events/

This program is included with general admission.

03/23/2023

Automobiles began appearing on ’s roads in the late 1800s, but the transition away from the use of horses as the dominant mode of personal transport did not happen quickly, or evenly. Visit the display “Horse2Auto” on Floor 1 to find out more!

Plan your visit ➡statemuseumpa.org/visit/

03/23/2023

It is not too late to sign up for tomorrow’s virtual Learn at Lunchtime program as we talk to Mark Hand, Director and Matt Reis, Deputy Director of Pennsylvania’s GreenGov Council. Hear more about GreenGov through a presentation of specific performance criteria benchmarked through the past four years of the program.

Presentations begin at 12:15 PM and will last approximately 20 minutes followed by a question and answer session. The program is free, but registration is required.
➡ statemuseumpa.org/LearnatLunchtime

03/22/2023

Dr. Mary Butler was the first female archaeologist to receive a Ph.D. in Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania in 1936. Her excavations in Somerset County, Pennsylvania of Native American sites during the 1930’s and 1940’s contributed to the greater understanding of the cultural heritage of southwestern Pennsylvania. Butler helped to pave the way for women in the field of anthropology/archaeology and furthered our understanding of the Native Americans of Pennsylvania.


Read more in This Week In Pennsylvania Archaeology: https://bit.ly/3YKVQgG

03/22/2023

If you have a curious kid, then join us on Thursday, March 23 at 11:30 AM to learn about the history of gardening in Pennsylvania and discover how the Burpee Seed Co. changed what we grow today. Then plant some heirloom seeds to take home.

Program is included with general admission. Space is limited. Sign up at the Information Desk when you arrive.
➡ statemuseumpa.org/events

03/21/2023

In 1798, 16-year-old Sarah Gebler created this sampler using silk and cotton thread in cross stitch and satin stitch. The sampler includes 10 verses or poems, the alphabet, numbers, a floral border and a squirrel seated on a branch.
➡ bit.ly/408f9C0

03/21/2023

Join the Planetarium Director on Wednesday 3/22 at 2 PM for a live chat exploring what you can see in the sky. Learn about the basic motions of the sky, visible constellations and planets, and any special celestial events that are coming up in the next month.

• Tickets, including Members and complimentary passes, must be obtained at the ground floor information desk at least 5 minutes before showtime.
• Planetarium shows start promptly, so please arrive on time. Doors will not be opened after the show has started and no ticket refunds will be given for missed shows.
• The planetarium is not recommended for children age 3 and under.
• Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
• We reserve the right to sell tickets into all scheduled planetarium shows and programs.

➡statemuseumpa.org/events/

03/20/2023

“Art of the State” is an annual juried exhibition open to Pennsylvania residents who are at least 18 years of age. Artists will compete in five categories: painting, work on paper, sculpture, craft, and photography and digital media. Entries to “Art of the State 2023” must be submitted online. Learn more ➡ statemuseumpa.org/artofthestate

03/20/2023

PHMC welcomes Angelica Docog! The Commission has appointed Docog to the role of director of The State Museum of Pennsylvania. As director, Docog will oversee the general administration of operations and programs at the museum. 👉 https://phmc.info/3lzJRVI

03/20/2023

The Power of Women

Read “This Week In Pennsylvania Archaeology” and visit the Hall of Anthropology and Archaeology at The State Museum of Pennsylvania.

March is designated as Women’s History Month; thus, it seems appropriate to explore the role of women in our archaeological and cultural her...

03/20/2023

Astronomical spring begins today at 5:24 PM. that the Vernal Equinox occurs because of Earth’s tilted axis in relation to the Sun-Earth plane and Earth’s position in its orbit. The result is a nearly equal amount of daylight and darkness. Watch the Sun rise and set just a bit farther north on the horizon each day until summer.

Learn more about the Vernal Equinox with NASA ➡ bit.ly/3JlA8uh

03/19/2023

The GreenGov Program in Pennsylvania sets forth ‘Lead by Example’ climate goals for Commonwealth Agencies focused on environmental sustainability and carbon reduction. Want to learn more? Join us on Friday, March 24 for a virtual Learn at Lunchtime program as we talk to Mark Hand, Director and Matt Reis, Deputy Director of Pennsylvania’s GreenGov Council. Hear more about GreenGov through a presentation of specific performance criteria benchmarked through the past four years of the program.

Presentations begin at 12:15 PM and will last approximately 20 minutes followed by a question and answer session. The program is free, but registration is required.
➡ statemuseumpa.org/LearnatLunchtime

03/19/2023

Genevieve Blatt and C. DeLores Tucker were both gamechangers. Blatt was the first woman to win elected state-wide office in Pennsylvania, Tucker was the nation’s first African American woman to serve as a state secretary of state. Both women were also known for their colorful public personas and unique personal styles.

View objects from the State Museum’s collections associated these two remarkable Pennsylvania women in “A Flair for Public Service” on Floor 1.



Plan your visit ➡ statemuseumpa.org/visit/

03/18/2023

The clusters of fragrant yellow flowers on the spicebush are a sign spring is here. Named for the sweet and spicy fragrance when the twigs, leaves, or fruit are crushed, spicebush is native to .

This plant is also a host for the caterpillars of the spicebush swallowtail butterfly (Papilio troilus), the promethea moth (Callosamia promethea), and the eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). Adding this shrub is an excellent way to support pollinators and add some early spring color.

03/18/2023

Quilts are party in the front, business in the back. Traditionally composed of three layers of fiber - a woven cloth top with colorful patches and stitched patterns, a layer of batting or wadding in the middle, and a simple woven back that serves as the foundation for the rest of the quilt. All three parts are stitched together. Quilts may be used functionally as bed coverings or decoratively as wall hangings.

Made entirely of silk and velvet fabrics, this quilt was made in the late 1800s by Annie Rodearmel German, a long-time resident of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. View more quilts from the museum's online collection ➡ bit.ly/3mTzuMI

03/17/2023

that each of the 13 dioramas in Mammal Hall represent an actual location in ? Bring the family on Saturday, March 18 from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM to learn interesting facts about the mammals that live in our state when you find these locations on the giant map. Included with museum general admission.

➡statemuseumpa.org/events/

03/17/2023

The word “shamrock” comes from the Irish word Seamróg, meaning “little clover." According to St. Patrick’s Day lore, the shamrock plant, with its three leaves, was used by Patrick (not yet a saint) as a symbol for the Holy Trinity (the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost) in his attempt to convert the Irish to Christianity in the 5th century. This small green plant has come to symbolize Ireland.

This pearlware teapot decorated with shamrocks was recovered from archaeological excavations at the Metropolitan Detention Center site (36Ph91) in Philadelphia. Amazingly, the teapot, which dates to the early 19th century, was found almost complete in a trash pit at the site.

Read more in This Week In Pennsylvania Archaeology: https://bit.ly/3lhidge

03/16/2023

Are you a State Museum of Pennsylvania member? Bring your little ones to play an hour early in Curiosity Connection! This hand-on space will open on Saturday, March 18 at 9 AM prior to StoryTime for members to play before they hear a story! Proof of membership is required.

Then come to StoryTime at 10:30 AM to explore space with a reading of “Give Me Some Space” by Philip Bunting and create a map of the solar system.

➡statemuseumpa.org/events/

03/16/2023

Mysterious features first seen decades ago by Voyager are back. Since the 1980s, temporary "spoke" features across Saturn's rings have fascinated scientists, yet eluded explanation. They have been observed in the years preceding and following the planet's equinox, becoming more prominent as the date approaches.

Saturn's upcoming autumnal equinox of the northern hemisphere on May 6, 2025, means that spoke season has come again. Learn more about how the Hubble Space Telescope is studying them. ➡ bit.ly/41yhFD0

03/15/2023

Join us on Friday, March 24 for a virtual Learn at Lunchtime program as we talk to Mark Hand, Director and Matt Reis, Deputy Director of Pennsylvania’s GreenGov Council. In Pennsylvania, the GreenGov Program sets forth ‘Lead by Example’ climate goals for Commonwealth Agencies, focused on environmental sustainability and carbon reductions. Learn about the GreenGov efforts and successes to date through a presentation of specific performance criteria benchmarked through the past four years of the program.

Presentations begin at 12:15 PM and will last approximately 20 minutes followed by a question and answer session. The program is free, but registration is required.
➡ statemuseumpa.org/LearnatLunchtime

03/15/2023

During a career that spanned nearly 50 years artist Thaddeus Mortimer “T.M.” Fowler produced more bird’s-eye or panoramic views of American cities and towns than any other artist. Roughly half of his more than 400 views depict communities across .

Explore these maps using the Pennsylvania Industry: A Bird’s Eye View interactive display located in Transportation and Industry. You might learn something new about the history of your Pennsylvania town.

Can’t make it in person? www.exhibitstudiosmedia.com/interactive/pa_museum/

03/14/2023

Whether large and small, brightly colored or camouflaged, butterflies and moths are not only beautiful, but are also ecologically important. Betsy Leppo, an Invertebrate Zoologist at the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and PA Natural Heritage Program discussed native Pennsylvania butterflies and moths and the impact that human development has had on the Lepidoptera population in our state during this Learn at Lunchtime program ➡ bit.ly/3J4qvB5

03/14/2023

10,000 followers! Thank you for your interest in The State Museum of Pennsylvania!

03/14/2023

Sorry to disappoint some of you, but this day celebrates the pi spelled without the “e”! Pi is a mathematical constant represented by the Greek letter π. In short it is 3.14, so it is recognized on 3/14. The world record for calculating the number of digits of pi is a staggering 62.8 trillion figures.

You can celebrate this day by trying The NASA Pi Day Challenge ➡ www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/nasapidaychallenge/

or add back that “e” and practice your math by dividing up your favorite pie!🥧

03/13/2023

Red, blue, yellow…are you a kid who is curious about color? Watch and learn about primary, secondary, tints and shades ➡ bit.ly/3SDzpbU

03/13/2023

Artists Conversations: Violet Oakley's William Penn Murals

In the early 20th century, Artist Violet Oakley (1874 – 1961) made history as the first woman to ever receive a government art commission. At the time, muralists were primarily men. Oakley began work on the Governor's Reception Room mural series in 1902 and would become the principal artist for the largest amount of murals in the Pennsylvania State Capitol. Herself a pacifist, Oakley was drawn to Penn’s approach to religious freedom and tolerance. Oakley carefully chose her theme to ensure that Penn’s principles of tolerance and justice would influence future Pennsylvanians.


Learn more about Violet Oakley’s mural “The Founding of the State of Liberty Spiritual" in the Governor's Reception Room at the Pennsylvania State Capitol during this Learn at Lunchtime program with Historian Jason Wilson of the Capitol Preservation Committee and Fine Arts Curator Amy Hammond.
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In honor of Charter Day, Historian Jason Wilson of the Capitol Preservation Committee and Fine Arts Curator Amy Hammond will discuss Violet Oakley’s tribute ...